Cedric the Entertainer

One of The Original Kings of Comedy

Prepare yourself for a night of royalty because one of “The Original Kings of Comedy” is marching his way into The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center on Friday, September 7 at 8 p.m.

Born Cedric Kyles in 1964, Cedric the Entertainer adopted his stage name early on in his career. Having also worked as a singer and dancer, Cedric wanted audiences to know he was more than just another comedian, though after being named “most humorous” in his high school graduating class, he seemed destined early on to be best known for his wit. Since then, Cedric has celebrated many career successes across television, live performances and film. He is a man with a gift for wringing laughter from everyday situations. Cedric the Entertainer has achieved a career as one of the top standup comics in America and has a steadily growing résumé as an actor in film and television.

Cedric began his career touring comedy clubs around the United States, and in 1993, he hit it big when he scored his first regular spot on television, as the host of the BET series “Comicview.” A couple of years later Cedric discovered fellow comic Steve Harvey and the two rising stars struck up a friendship. In 1996, Harvey scored his own sitcom, “The Steve Harvey Show,” and invited Cedric along to play his friend, Cedric Jackie Robinson. Cedric was a hit on the show, and his work on the series earned him the NAACP Image Award as Best Supporting Actor on a Comedy Series four years in a row.

In 1997, Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey joined forces with funnymen Bernie Mac and D.L. Hughley for a concert tour “The Kings of Comedy.” The tour was a major success, selling out large venues across the country and grossing 37 million dollars over a two-year run. After his success on “The Steve Harvey Show” and with the “The Kings of Comedy” tour, it was inevitable that Hollywood would come knocking on his door. In 1998, Cedric scored his first comedic big screen role in the comedy Ride. The Original Kings of Comedy, a concert film shot by Spike Lee also made headlines in 2000. Cedric is probably most memorable for his role as Eddie in the 2002 summer blockbuster hit Barbershop. Despite some controversy over the opinions and perspectives of the character played by Cedric, the film became a huge hit, crossing ethnic boundaries. Many of Cedric’s other roles are featured in movies such as Big Momma’s House, Ice Age, Johnson Family Vacation, Madagascar, The Honeymooners and Code Name: The Cleaner.

Throughout his successful career, Cedric the Entertainer has filled many hearts with laughter and audiences can expect a night of royal comedy when Cedric visits The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center on Friday, September 7.